Apparatus for obtaining samples from drilled wells



APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING SAMPLES FROM DRILLED WELLS Original Filed July5. 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet l l Il /Hw/''fff/f/I lll iis.. L f

Feb. 7, 1933. G. A. MACRE DY APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING SAMPLES Fha/mDi'ILLED WELLS Original Filed July 5. 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet Feb. 7, 1933.G. A. MACREADY APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING SAMPLES FROM DRILLED WELLS 4Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed July 5, 1922 G. A. MACREADY 1,896,522

Original Filed July 5 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Feb. 7, 1933.

APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING SAMPLES FROM DRILLED WELLS 1i.... v t

Patented Feb. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE A. MAOBEADY, OFLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

Application med July 5, 1922, Serial No. 572,889. Renewed October 10,1927.

This invention relates to well drilling apparatus, and more artieularlyrelates to drilled and bored we ls.

The invention has for its broad object a i provision of an apparatus forsecuring a sample of the natural fluid existant at the bottom of boredand drilled wells and especiall the deep wells.

In t e drilling of deep wells it is a frequent occurrence that the oilbearing) strata are below one or more higher water earing strata, and insuch cases it is a very desirable practice to interpose a water sealbetween the oil bearing strata at the foot of the well and the higherwater bearing strata. This division in the length of the well is more orless of a haphazard nature for the reason that the water seal may beintroduced at a level above the oil bearing strata and also above awater bearing strata with the result that there is not an entireelimination of water from the bottom of the well, and the water belowthe seal, therefore, is drawn into, or flows into, the foot of the wellcasing and mixes with the valuable oil. This is especial- 1yobjectionable, since it depreciates the quality of the oil and as well,also, it reduces the maximum oil flow in direct proportion to the amountof water that commingles with the oil.

Therefore, it will be clear that a very important advance is made inthis art by the provision of means for insuring the sealin of the wellaccurately and ositlvely at suc a point above the oil bearmg strata aswill exclude the mixture therewith of water from the higher levels.

Very expensively dug wells and very expensive apparatus are frequentlytotally '19 lost because of the cementing in of a well at such pointabove the oil strata as to not exclude the admission of water to the oiland after the a )paratus has been cemented in it is practicallyimpossible to recover it.

Therefore,

the present invention consists of an apparatus for determiningaccurately the proper level at which a deep well is to be sealed so asto exclude water from levels above thev oil bearin strata.

Other objects will e made manifest in the so following specification ofan embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanyini'`drawings2 in which igure 1 1s a longitudinal central section of a seatcutting reamer.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the reamer shown in Fig: 1.

Fi 3 is a central longitudinal section of the oot of a drill pipecarrying a packer swiveled thereon.

Fig. 4 is a cross section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3 showing circulatingcheck valves.

ig. 5 is a cross section on line 5-5 of Fig. 3 showing the swivel toolelements.

Fig. 6 is a cross section online 6--6 of Fig. 66 3 showing a sectionthrough the swivel, packed joint.

Fig. 7 is a cross section on line 7-7 of Fig.

3 showin the concentric spindles of the too Fig. 8 1s a cross section online 8-8 of Fig. 70 3 showing a tubular tool core and the packing jacketprovided thereon.

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section showing diagrammaticall the step ofcutting a taper seat in the well ole.

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section showing dia rammatically the step ofplacing the pac :ing tool.

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal section showing diagrammaticall the step ofintroducing a down pressure c eck valve and maintaining a circulationabove the said valve.

Fig. 12 is a longitudinal section showing diagrammatically the step ofdischarging fluid from the tool pipe above the check valve by compressedair.

Fig. 13 is a longitudinal section showing diagrammatically the releaseof air pressure and the upflow of fluid from the formation at the footof the tool.

Fig. 14 is a. longitudinal section showing diagrammatically thedischarge from the tool of material collected above the check valve.

Fig. 15 is a central longitudinal section showing diagrammatically thetrapping of a filial sample of formation fluid retained by a trap valve.

The following specificational paragraphs will suflice to explain a formof apparatus by which the present method, for obtaining a sample of thefluid which occurs naturally at any given level in a well beforepermanently setting thecasing, may be practiced. From this sample it maybe determined whether or not the tested level contains water orpetroleum, or a mixture of the same in natural state.

Ordinarily the well hole is drilled to the desired depth and it issuspected that oil has been struck by the cutting tools. It having beendetermined that oil is flowing into the foot of the well, it is thendesirable to seal the well at a point above the oil bearing strata tocut off the downflow of water from higher strata. In the diagrammaticdrawings, the well is shownas drilled down to any suitable depth with anupper bore B and this is stopped ofl' at a shoulder S which may eitherbe formed during the drilling of the well as by introducing animpervious plug of cement or other material, or by cutting with tools ofdifferent diameters. Below the shoulder S the well is drilled down asindicated at W with a diameter considerably smaller `than the plug orshoulder bore'S, as for instance, by a tool, such as a fish tail bit C.An important feature of the invention is that after the snall hole W hasbeen run down and the oil bearing stratum encountered, then means areintroduced into the well for determining accurately the level at whichto seal the hole or casing to exclude water from the oil stratum.

To that end, I provide for cutting a seat and introducing a removablepacking in the well at the seat, which packing will effectively excludethe downward flow of waterfrom levels above the oil stratum.

For instance, the process is disclosed as involving the cutting of aseat 2 at the top of the small well hole W and below the shoulder Sabove which is formed the larger bore B. This seat 2 is preferablyconical so as to facilitate the making, readily, of a simple tightjoint.

To cut the tapered seat, I provide a cutter, a form of which consists ofa tapering body 3 of suitable length in diameter according t0 thedimensions of the well hole being drilled. The tapering tool body 3 isprovided with longitudinally arranged cuttingr teeth 4 between the edgesof which are formed, by the inclined backs of the teeth, longitudinalgrooves 5 which permit the flow of fluid and cuttings upwardly about thetool or reamer while it is being operated and while circulating water ormud is being forced through the drill pipe 6 which is screwed orotherwise suitably connected to the head 3 of the reamer body 3. Thereamer has a longitudinal passageway 3a to provide for downwardcirculation of water or mud from the drill pipe 6 to facilitate thecutting of a tapered seat 2. The lower end of the reamer 3 may beattached in any suitable manner to a drill pipe 7 of smaller diameterthan the lower end of the ta er reamer so that it can carry a cutter asthe sh tail cutter C which will operate to redrill the -well hole W andto expose the well formation body to permit inflow of fluid in itsnatural state in the bottom of the well.

The string of drill pipe carrying the reamer is operated a sufficientperiod of time to provide for the effective drilling of the tapered seat2, and then this string of tools is removed leaving the hole in a cleancondition for the reception of means for taking a sample of the wellfluid.

Means for obtaining a test sample from the bottom of the well is shownas including a drill pipe 10 of suitable length,'to the lower end ofwhich there is attached a substantial valve tubell, the upper end ofwhich is provided with an enlarged bore hole to receive the contiguousend of the drill pipe 10 and below which the valve tube is provided witha central bore or passageway 12. In the wall of the valve tube 11 isarranged a suitable number of outlet selfclosing valves 13. These valvesare normally pressed inwardly to seats as by springs 14. The valves movein chambers having suitable outlet ports 15, F ig. 4, and it isunderstood that any number of the valves may be utilized in the valvetube 11.

The lower end of the valve tube 11 is shown as being externally reduced,and to it is attached a spindle head 16 abutting against the lower endof the valve tube 11 and having a bore 16 of somewhat less diameter thanthe bore 12 of the valve tube 11. The spindle head 16 is externallyreduced, and from its lower end extends a spindle 16a through which thebore 16 continues, with substantially uniform diameter. Externallysecured upon the reduced end of the spindle head 16 is a locking sleeve17 having a sleeve 17 abutting against a shoulder provided on the head16. The lower end of the locking sleeve 17 is internally threaded andreceives a locking collar 18 which bears against a packing gland 19which in turn operates to compress a cylindrical packing medium 20 whichis compressed against the inwardly extending central body portion of thelocking sleeve 17. This body portion is provided with a shoulder 17a atits upper part, and upon this shoulder rests the headof a hollow stem 21shouldered complementary to the shoulder 17a. In this stem is turnablyfitted :Ihe stem 21 extends downwardly somewhat below the lower end ofthe locking sleeve 17 and on to it is threaded the upper end of asubstantial packer body 25 having an up er shoulder 25* and a lowershoulder 25", an between these shoulders there is formed an elongatederipheral seat in which is rovided a suita le packing medium 26. his mayconsist of wood, metal, fibre or substance of other desirablecharacteristics which, when lowered into the'well b the above describedcarrying parts, is designed to seat firmly upon theconical scat 2provided therefor in the well hole.

To the lower end of the packer body 25 there may be attached anysuitable coupling 27, and to this may be attached a suction or inletpipe 28 of sufficiently small diameter te pass freely down vinto thewell hole lV below the conical seat 2. i

Reference being made to Fig. 10, the packing and swivel device, as abovedescribed, is lowered into the well hole and during the loweringr actioncirculationof water or mud fromv pumps may be maintained as is indicatedy the arrows a; tliepump mud assing down through the swivel drilling cadat the top of the well, thence through the open bore provided throughthe swivel tool and packer, and thence out at the lower end of the footipe section 28. This circulation facilitates t e lowering of the packingtool into the hole and to its seat.

After the packing tool has been lowered to its position as is indicatedin Fig. 11, there is then dropped into the topof the drill pipe Y 10 aball valve 30 which is of such diameter as to rest upon the seat formedinthe head 16 at the upper end of the bore 16 therein.

` lVhen this ball or other suitable valve forining member 30 has takenits seat in the spindle head16, then circulating fluid is forced intothe drill tu'be and it will take a course as indicated by the arrows I)downwardly in the drill pipe; the pressure of the mud tending to firm yseat the ball valve 30 and at the same time to open the inwardly closingoutlet check valves 13 in the valve tube 11. It will be seen that liquidin the well below the seated packing seal 26 cannot flow upwardly aboutthe packing tool because of the firm bearing of the packer upon its seat2, and further no fluid can pass into the swivel joint of the tool,since this -is internally acked by the packing ring 20 interposed etweenthe locking sleeve 17 and the stem 21 of the packing ody 25. Thecirculation of the/mud up about the drill pipe 10 prevents thelatterfrom becomin stuck or freezing in the well hole, and at t 1e same timeenables the substantiall constant rotation of 'the drill pipe whic 1further prevents it from freezing in place though the packing body orplug may be held stationary 1n its seat 2.

There is neither circulation nor rotation of the foot section 28attached to the packer.

The next ste in the recess is to effect the expulsion o the liqui whichis supported in the tool above the check valve 80, and this is accomlished by turning compressed air into the iead of the drill pipe 10, thepressure acting upon the column of mud M above the valve 30 and forcingthis down to and out through the outlet valves 13. The e'eeted mud andfluid passes upwardly as s iown by arrows c to and out at the head ofthe well.4 The air pressure is maintained for such a. period and at sucha degree as will result in the expulsion of as much of the fluid in thedrill ipe string 10 as is practicable; downward ow of the fluid throughthe packer being prevented by the check valve 30, this step beingaccomplished with rotation of the drill pipe 10.

by compressed air, the next'step is to turn .off the compressed air andopen the head of the well so as to permit the air to become action oftheir springs 14 and by the pressure of the liquid outside of the stringof pipe 10. When an equilibrium has been produced in the drill pipe,there will be above the well fluid F, Fig-13,11 column of thecirculating mud M and, unlessithis mudhas been lifted to the top of thewell there will be above the mud M air in the pipe 10.

It might be Amentioned at this point that `instead of forcing thecirculating mud lout through the outlet valves by compressed air, thatthe mud can be pumped up through the drill pipe 10, or it can be hailedup through the drill pipe. The object of removing eirculating mud fromwithin the drill pipe stem is-to reduce the quantity thereof as much aspracticable so that at a later step it will-be possible to obtainsamples of the natural well fluid free from circulation mud dilution.

When pressure has been removed from the seated check valve' 30 in thepacking tool, the valve will be lifted as above described by Havingejected the mud in the drill pipe' ogsl 'material retained in the drillpipe` abme the valve is forced out through the outlet valves 13. Thiswill secure the removal from above the valve of such of the well fluidas may have been mixed with the circulating fluid and with the waterobtaining above the sealing packer. The intermittent upflow through thepacker and past the check valve 30 and the intermittent eJection thereoffrom the bottom of the pipe 10, is continued for such a period of timeas will entirely remove the diluted portion of fluid from the small holeand string of tools. Thereafter, fluid pressure is turned ofl" from thedrill pipe 10 and the head of the well is opened and a trap valve 33 isdropped into the drill pipe.

The trap valve 33 is preferably of greater diameter than the bore of thevalve tube 11, and this valve forming element, of whatever itscharacter, will seat upon the end of the bore 12 and therefore will trapsuch of the natural fluid as rises from the'bottom of the foot pipe 28through the packer and into the lower portion of the drill'pipe 10 as isshown in Fig. 15.. This trapped sample, therefore, is a true indicationof' the nature of the material that is found in the well hole below thesealing packer, and the string of pipe with the packerattached may thenbe lifted from the well hole, and the sample of fluid collected in thetrap may be removed from the tool and analyzed.

It will be seen that the above method enables the obtaining of a sampleof the well fluid from below any individual level in the length of thewell and if it be found that the well should be sealed at the firstlocation of the packing device, the .usual procedure of sealing may becompleted. On the other hand, if it is found that the sample from thetest indicates that there is water below the test level, then the wellhole W would be redrilled lto s uch diameter as to permit it to receivethe tapering reamer ata lower point for making a new seal and thetesting operation then repeated. Repetition may be made as often asnecessary before finally sealing the well at or just above the oilbearing stratum.

To prevent loss of lubricating oil from the ball bearing chamber, thespindle 16'* may be packed as at 16b in the stem 21. Y

Since but a short length of foot pipe 28 is used, it will not besubjected to much friction and it will be readily possible to recoverthe whole string of parts forming the tool, more especially true sinceit is intended that the rotation of the drill pipe shall be sto ped foronly short intervals.

arious modifications and changes may be resorted to within the spirit ofthe invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A device forobtaining test samples from drilled wells comprising apipe having a swiveled packer at its foot to engage a seat in the wellhole, said device having valve means permitting expulsion of fluid bydisplacement from within the pipe into the space outside of the pipeabove the packer but preventing flow of fluid in the opposite direction.

2. A device for obtaining test samples from drilled' wells comprising apipe having a swiveled packer at its foot to engage a seat in the wellhole, said device having valve means permitting expulsion of fluid bydisplacement from within the pipe into the space outside of the pipeabove the packer but preventmg flow in the opposite direction, and

means for trapping sample fluid in the pipe above said valve means.

3. A device for obtaining test samples from drilled wellsA comprising apipe, a' packer mounted on the pipe adapted to engage a seat in a Wellhole and prevent fluid in the well above the packer from entering thepipe below the packer, valve means permitting fluid in therwell to enterthe pipe from below the packer and become entrapped therein, and valvemeanspermitting fluid in the pipe above thel packer to bedisplacedtherefrom into the space outside of the pipe above the packer butpreventing flow in the opposite direction.

4. A packing tool c0mpr1sing a rotatable pipe, a tubular member securedto said pipe, a swiveled packer secured to said tubular member, andvalves associated with said tubular member permitting fluid to be forcedfrom space about said pipe above said packer but l preventing flow inthe opposite direction.

6. A packing tool comprising -a pipe, a swiveled packer mounted uponsaid pipe, a check valve permitting fluid to pass upwardly through saidpacker but preventing downward flow therethrough, a check valvepermitting fluid to be forced from within said pipe into the space aboutsaid pipe above said packer but preventing flow in the oppositedirection, and a check valve adapted to be placed in said pipe while inthe well to prevent forcing of the fluid from within said pipe throughthe walls of the pipe.

7. A packing tool comprising a pipe2 a tubular membermounted upon saidplge a swiveled packer mounted upon said tu ular member, outwardlopening check valves v 5 mounted in said tu ular member above saidpacker, valve seats formed upon said tubular member above and below sa1dcheck valves, and valves adapted to be inserted into said pipe while ina well to seat upcn said seats as 1o and for the purpose describe Intestimony whereof I have signed my name to this (secication.

ORGE A. MACREADY.

